One side of the medal bears an image of
St. Benedict, holding a cross in the right
hand and the Holy Rule in the left. On the
one side of the image is a cup, on the
other a raven, and above the cup and the
raven are inscribed the words: “Crux
Sancti Patris Benedicti” (Cross of the
Holy Father Benedict). Round the margin
of the medal stands the legend “Ejus in
obitu nro praesentia muniamur” (May we
at our death be fortified by his presence).
The reverse of the medal bears a cross
with the initial letters of the words: “Crux
Sacra Sit Mihi Lux” (The Holy Cross be
my light), written downward on the
perpendicular bar; the initial letters of the
words, “Non Draco Sit Mihi Dux” (Let
not the dragon be my guide), on the
horizontal bar; and the initial letters of
“Crux Sancti Patris Benedicti” in the
angles of the cross. Round the margin
stand the initial letters of the distich:
“Vade Retro Satana, Nunquam Suade
Mihi Vana — Sunt Mala Quae Libas, Ipse
Venena Bibas” (Begone, Satan, do not
suggest to me thy vanities — evil are the
things thou proffers, drink thou thy own
poison). At the top of the cross usually
stands the word Pax (peace) or the
monogram I H S (Jesus).